NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team will continue its challenging non-conference slate this weekend, as the Redbirds travel to Dayton, Ohio to compete in the Flyer-Raider Invitational on Friday. ISU opens the weekend on Friday versus Central Michigan before taking on a pair of spring NCAA Tournament participants in Dayton and Wright State on Saturday.
Live stats will be available for all three Redbird matches, with the Saturday night contest versus Wright State streamed on ESPN+.
MVC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Freshman setter Katelyn Lefler was dubbed the MVC Freshman of the Week, following her performance in ISU's home-opening weekend at Redbird Arena where she totaled 132 assists and averaged 11.0 per set to help the 'Birds to their first wins of the seasons. The freshman added 32 digs (2.67/set), 11 kills and six blocks on the weekend, earning a spot on the Red & White Invitational All-Tournament Team.
After posting 48 helpers in ISU's five-set win over Ohio on Friday night, Lefler recorded 56 assists in Saturday's four-set victory over UIC, the most in a four-set match since 2017. She concluded the weekend with 28 assists versus No. 25 Marquette, also blasting five kills and hitting .357 in that match. Through the first six matches of her career, the freshman ranks third in the MVC, averaging 9.32 assists per set on the year.
OTENE OUTSTANDING
Sophomore outside hitter Tamara Otene was placed on the all-tournament team for the second week in a row, recording 47 kills to average 3.92 per set in ISU's three match homestand over the weekend. The Auckland, New Zealand native has led ISU in kills in five of six games this year and blasted a career-high 21 kills in Saturday's four-set win over UIC. Otene is ranked sixth in the Valley in kills through six matches, averaging 3.65 per set on the season.
COMING SOON
Following this weekend, ISU returns to Normal to host the second of three tournaments at Redbird Arena in the Redbird Classic, which features Illinois, Missouri and North Texas.
For all latest on Illinois State volleyball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @RedbirdVB (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
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